Help me learn C language

[baccilus]

I am a student of microbiology. For some reason, C language is included in our syllabus. I need your guidance regarding these things:

1. Which online/offline book to consult
2. How do I practice it in my linux box? I have gcc installed but I don't know how to bring it up or start working on it like sir was while demonstrating it on turbo c++ software on windows.

Please consider that I am a medical student and would also need to know about the basics like what's a compiler,what's a LLL, Hll, etc.

I think I should have posted in programming section. Sorry about that. Can someone move this please?

I also saw a post regarding alternative to turbo c but I still need answers to both my questions since I am a complete noob and I have different requirements.

[cool_callis]

i will suggest u following book for beginning
1.c primer plus
2.c in a nutshell
both r really very good books .get hard copy of ny one which is available .
once u have mastered basics for perfection u can follow
1. c programming language by dennis ritchie (creator of c language)
the best c book but u will not understand this if u first read this book.
c in a nutshell book has given complete detail on compiling and debugging

[QwertyManiac]

To use GCC, open terminal and do this to compile your written C file:

gcc <filename_of_program>.c -o <somename_for_output_file>

And once compiled successfully by the above command (No o/p == Success), do this to run the program:

./<somename_for_output_file>

[baccilus]

Will these books have the kind of basics that I am gonna need. I need basic definitions and explanations too. How about Balaguru Sami or Nitin Upadhya's book? My friend has them so I won't have to buy them. Are they any good?

[cool_callis]

if u need only basic knowledge then u can follow balaguruswamy or book by yashwant kanetkar (let us c)
as u need only basic knowledge i suggest that 'let us c ' by yashwant kanetkar will be the most suitable book for u . i has very simple language and suitable for noobs to programming and those who need only basic knowledge . get this book.it has simple language nd easier to understand than balaguruswamy book.

[anantkhaitan]

Originally Posted by QwertyManiac

gcc <filename_of_program>.c -o <somename_for_output_file>

Better include -W for the warning(s):

gcc -W <filename_of_program>.c -o <somename_for_output_file>

[praka123]

@baccilus are u good in math I am not and i struggle with programming,still dont know anything even with C although i passed exams long back 9 yrs ago

[Pathik]

Originally Posted by baccilus

Will these books have the kind of basics that I am gonna need. I need basic definitions and explanations too. How about Balaguru Sami or Nitin Upadhya's book? My friend has them so I won't have to buy them. Are they any good?

Try Kernighan & Ritchie.

[The_Devil_Himself]

balagurusamy's and kanitkar's are good for nothing.

[hayabusa_ryu]

I suggest that u should go for C : The Complete Refrence published by Tata McGraw Hill and then go for C : How to program written by Deitel & Deitel published by Prentice Hall and lastly go for C The Programming Language by Ritchie and Kernigham. You can also try Yaswant Kanitkar's book

[anantkhaitan]

Programming in ANSI C, E Balagurusamy is quite good..

[baccilus]

@Praka: I am a medical student. I suck at maths.

I think I will give Balaguruswamy a try first since I won't have to buy it. If I don't understand it, I will go by Hayabusu's advice although I will just read one of them (Have to focus more on my majors, C is subsidiary)

By the way I have installed Anjuta. That's good right?

@Devil: Can you elaborate please.

[Indyan]

I would reccomend Balaguruswamy and Let us C to start with.
Let us C is very well written and is actually a fun read.

[praka123]

@baccilus:yeah Anjuta IDE is very nice and easy

[The_Devil_Himself]

Originally Posted by Indyan

I would reccomend Balaguruswamy and Let us C to start with.
Let us C is very well written and is actually a fun read.

please,please don't misguide!!it takes a lot of time to get over the 'kanetkar syndrome'.


@baccilus:I don't think you need any IDE for basic programming,just use a siple text editor and then use gcc to compile,as simple as that.

One humble request,get a good book instead of even trying balagurusamy,I have thsi book and it sucks! some good book will make learning c a pleasure like it should be.

[praka123]

I bought long back C for Dummies.it is lieing here in my room.it follows instructs for turbo C which i dont use.but id have to say-it is very easy if u have time though.

[baccilus]

Devil; I think I will flip the pages a bit and see how he has tried to explain the things. Personally I too like books where author tries to make things simple, rather than throwing knowledge at you. Any book you think is nice and simple which manages to get the concept across?



I can also get "let us C" from Brit library I guess. Will see these and get back to you guys.



Thanks for the help guys.

[gary4gar]

get yourself a copy of K&R, it comes for 90 or 100 bucks

[damnthenet]

Balagurusamy ought to be enough for a addied paper

[MetalheadGautham]

I noticed that Dev C++ has a built in instruction set for C programming. My friend, who is in this forums, but has not yet posted, has learnt C exclusively through Dev C++'s built in help.

[Faun]

Originally Posted by hayabusa_ryu

C : How to program written by Deitel & Deitel published by Prentice Hall

ftw

[Yamaraj]

Anyone recommending Kanetkar books should be hanged and fed to vultures.

C Primer Plus is an excellent text. K&R is tough on beginners, and was originally meant for programmers not familiar with C. Stephen Kochan's Programming in C, 3rd edition is also quite good for starters. I also recommend A Book on C by Kelley and Pohl.

[Faun]

Originally Posted by Yamaraj

Anyone recommending Kanetkar books should be hanged and fed to vultures.

C Primer Plus is an excellent text. K&R is tough on beginners, and was originally meant for programmers not familiar with C. Stephen Kochan's Programming in C, 3rd edition is also quite good for starters. I also recommend A Book on C by Kelley and Pohl.

I never learned from Kanetkar,

K & R is for hardcore sys programming

Deitel and Deitel is a good option (includes a primer to C++ and JAVA).

[MetalheadGautham]

there is a book on C programming by Dennis Ritchie. It is absolutely amazing, even for n00bs. He explains every concept, and gives lots of tips. His english is also scholary.

PS: for those who don't know, Dennis Ritchie invented C

[praka123]

...and co-invented UNIX for which C Programming Language was made.

[gary4gar]

but a word of caution K&R is book for those who already know some programming in any langage. n00bs will find difficult to understand.

the as the opening text of book is
"there is no other to learn to program, then to program itself, so lets get started"

#include<stdio.h>
int main()
{
printf("hello world \n");
return 0;
}

so the book is closer to *UNIX, so windows wienies may not understand some *UNIX related concepts, like the file system handling etc etc

[praka123]

books are not responsible atleast 20%!there is no change if u collect these books!make sure u have a good lecturer,guide.with pupils poor in Maths,they sure need a lecturer for C programming etc.no self studying.
best way to learn programming is to make sure whether ur nice in Math or not.i ur not good in math(<60%) then Programming can be left for those geeks and you can try some good with politics or arts etc
ofcourse no offense meant to any!JFYI
^...@gary:waiting for ur fast track to C programming

[adi007]

Originally Posted by Yamaraj

Anyone recommending Kanetkar books should be hanged and fed to vultures.

^^please tell why??
though i have not learned C by it but i found it ok...

there are lots of downloadable e-books regarding programming languages at
www.freeprogrammingresources.com/books.html
but i personally feel that no e-book can replace the good old normal books..

[gary4gar]

Originally Posted by wise man

All books by Yashwant Kanetkar including books like Let US C, Working with C, Data structure through C. The problem with his books is that, though they are easy to read, but they contain lots of factual errors. They do not address the fact that certain aspects of C is implementation dependent.

one word:AVOID THEM

Originally Posted by praka123

^...@gary:waiting for ur fast track to C programming

oh didn't read this....lol i can't code anything properly apart from "Hello world" program
do you need to fast track to hello world

[Yamaraj]

Originally Posted by adi007

^^please tell why??
though i have not learned C by it but i found it ok...

You also find TC++ ok. I came, I saw, I detested. And I won't explain why.